Maternity unit slammed after deaths

A maternity unit has been severely criticised by a healthcare watchdog following the deaths of 10 women who gave birth at the same hospital.

The Healthcare Commission blamed system failures, weak leadership and a poor quality of care in nine out of the ten cases at Northwick Park Hospital in north west London.

The watchdog renewed its call for all NHS trusts to check they have robust systems for monitoring the safety of maternity units as the report described what happened to each of the ten women, all of whom died during pregnancy or within 42 days of giving birth between April 2002 and April 2005.

The number of deaths was more than six times the national average, where about one woman in 8,775 dies in childbirth.

The investigation into the North West London Hospitals NHS Trust found a catalogue of failings at the hospital, which had a working culture that led to poor working practices and a poor quality of care.

Difficult decisions were often left to junior staff, the report added, the hospital failed to recognise and respond quickly when a woman's condition changed unexpectedly and it had inadequate resources to deal with high-risk cases.

There were too few consultant obstetricians and midwives, and not enough dedicated theatre staff, the commission said.

The report found there was a reliance on agency and locum staff without adequate managerial or professional support and a lack of a dedicated high dependency unit.

The maternity unit also failed to learn lessons after each death and although the trust took action, the working environment was such that mistakes were repeated.

The trust's chief executive, Mary Wells, said: "I would like to reassure the families, and the local community, that lessons have been learned and that we continue to do all we can to avoid tragedies of this nature happening again. I am confident with the changes we have now made we are providing better and safer care for local women."